A COUNTRY DIVIDED AGAINST ITSELF (I KINGS 12:1-24): SOCIAL INJUSTICE AND INSECURITY IN EASTERN NIGERIA

Abstract

This article examines insecurity in Eastern Nigeria in the light of I Kings 12:1-24. In the pericope, social injustice was committed against the people of northern Israel by Rehoboam. Rehoboam supported his southern brothers but neglected the northern inhabitants. The northern inhabitants used diplomacy to drive home their grievances, but Rehoboam was hell-bound on continuing his authoritarian rule and injustices against the northern people. This made the northern Israelites resort to arms struggle. They killed Adoram, who was sent by Rehoboam to them. In fact, Rehoboam narrowly escaped. The situation in Eastern Nigerian is similar to what happened in the pericope. The people of Eastern Nigeria have been calling on the government of Nigeria to amend the arbitrary policies against the region. But all pleas have fallen on deaf ears and the social injustice against the people of Eastern Nigeria has continued to escalate. The situation of things has reached the point where there is the systemic killing of security men of the government in Eastern Nigeria. Literary analysis was used as the research methodology. Findings reveal that it is the blatant and obscene injustice against the Easterners that has led to the increasing insecurity in Eastern Nigeria. It is believed that the pericope will speak anew to the increasing insecurity situation in Eastern Nigeria.